RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Attorney General Jay Jones (D) joined lawmakers Monday to highlight new legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal vape sales and keeping nicotine products out of minors' hands. Jones joined Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico County) a nd Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) to mark the passage of both House Bill 308 and Senate Bill 620 during a press conference on Monday, March 23. Hope sponsored HB 308, while Ebbin and VanValkenburg sponsored SB 620. The bills are designed to prevent the sale of liquid nicotine vape products to minors while holding retailers accountable for violations of Virginia’s under-21 laws. "This is a good day for kids -- this is a good day for public health," VanValkenburg said. "This is a good day for families and schools. It's going to make a meaningful mark." Jones emphasized that weak enforcement has allowed illegal sales to continue, despite laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21 years old. “For too long, we’ve known what’s happening in our schools and communities," Jones said. "You can walk into middle schools across the Commonwealth and see it. Teachers are confiscating vapes from bathrooms. Kids are sharing them. At the same time, unregulated products with unknown ingredients have been sitting on store shelves with no enforcement. That is unacceptable.” Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) will have the final say on this legislation. If she signs it, retailers will be required to obtain a license or register with the state to sell vape products. They will also be subject to underage compliance checks by Virginia ABC. Lawmakers said that violations could result in fines that go up to thousands of dollars. Repeated offenders risk losing their license, especially after multiple violations. "There will be consequences for selling to underage," Hope said. Previously, the Office of the Attorney General was responsible for maintaining and enforcing a directory of liquid nicotine and vapor products. According to Jones' office, the new "Vape Enforcement Act" is said to "close those loopholes and strengthen provisions." Ebbin said lawmakers worked with a wide range of stakeholders, including public health organizations, educators, parents and those law-abiding retailers who want to see enforcement of tobacco and vape laws and closure of said loopholes. "We know these products are highly addictive for anyone, including the adults who use them, but particularly for children whose brains are still developing," Ebbin said. "Nicotine has some really harmful health effects." The legislation comes after a significant increase in criminal activity in the state, with multiple localities, including Hanover and Henrico counties and the city of Richmond, as well as the Commonwealth, have worked to crack down on the growing number of vape and tobacco shops. Hanover and Henrico passed stricter ordinances to regulate future vape shops. ...read more read less